Qualifications for Teaching Assistants in the UK
This article will focus on the requirements needed for teaching assistants in the UK.
Over the past few years there has been an increase in the number of teaching assistant posts in the UK, making it a career choice for many who seek to work with children but for whatever reason do not want to become a fully-fledged teacher. In fact teaching assistants these days take on many of the roles of teachers, including taking classes by themselves when necessary.
Before making any application, it is worth being sure what the exact requirements of the post are. Be aware that there are different types of teaching assistant. The most common type works throughout Key Stage 1 supporting the learning of children aged 4-7. In these classes an assistant will often take small groups for activities during lessons, record evidence of the achievement of Reception children, work on display material and sit with particular children. Assistants in these classes also perform many personal roles - helping children with clothes and going to the toilet, for example. Key Stage 2 classes now increasingly have assistants as well. Sometimes they support individual children with Special Educational Needs and sometimes they work on behalf of the teacher, putting up displays and helping with reading, and sometimes it is a mixture of these.
Secondary schools also have assistants, usually to work with children with learning or behavioural difficulties. If you are interested in SEN, there are many opportunities to work with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in mainstream schools, where you will be attached to a child for most of the day. However, there are no formal qualifications needed. Different Local Education Authorities will have different requirements, so it is a good idea to contact your LEA when you are thinking about applying, or to study job vacancies on the TES website. Most LEAs will expect you to have some experience of working with children. If you don't, then spend some time in schools on a voluntary basis. This will help you get a feel for the teaching assistant role and it will look good on any application.
To do this, you will need to undergo a full Criminal Records Bureau check - an investigation into any contact you have ever had with the police, including unsubstantiated complaints and cautions. There are teaching assistant qualifications that you can take. You can study for a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Supporting Teaching and Learning at Level 2 or Level 3. There is also a course which can give you Higher Level Teaching Assistant status, which requires considerable study and a portfolio of work. If you take any of these qualifications, you would need to be doing some form of work in a school.
If you are able to secure a professional post without the qualifications, you will often be able to study for these on the job. Before you can find a college where you can study for these qualifications, you need to research the colleges' entry requirements. You may need a certain grade at GCSE maths or English - it is worth checking these out and if you are not up to the appropriate level, ensure that you can take courses to bring you up to that level. Further information can be found at: http://www.tda.gov.uk/support
